Help with Ron Pruitt Indians Jersey

[Jayworld]

This jersey is currently on eBay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230419957068&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_500wt_993

Seller lists it as a 1974 jersey, which I know is incorrect, as Pruitt came up with Texas in 1975 before being traded in the off-season to Cleveland for the 1976 season. I got Ron's autograph during his brief stay at Texas, and the jersey has intrigued me, however, I'm not finding any pictorial info that proves that this was his jersey (all the photos I have and in my bb card collection shows him wearing the Indians red alternate version jersey), and the fact that the "P" on the jersey seems to be a darker/different color than the rest of the name. I've also been comparing it with the information I have in the most excellent MLB Double-Knit Jerseys PDF that I have. According to that, the jersey could indeed be a 1976 or 1977 home jersey.

What do you guys think? All information is most welcome.

Thanks,
Jay

[platinum1]

I think the reason the P looks a little darker is because of the way the picture was taken. The T's are a little darker too. Its just the flash making the other letter lighter.

[tcfor3]

Cleveland wore these white jerseys at home games mainly during the 1973 season.

I went through more than 175 wire photos (100 games total) I have from Indians home games from 1974-1977 and only found four games (all in 1974) that the Indians wore the white jerseys.

I realize that 100 games is not a comprehensive sample (about 30%) for the 320+ home games (81 per year) that Cleveland played during the four seasons from 1974-1977. It did seem odd that these jerseys only showed up four times and all in 1974 in those games.

However, the name placement, letters font size and style and number size and style is consistent with other Indians' white home game jerseys from 1973-1977 that I have seen.

By the way, Indians' minor league jerseys of this era and style had the numbers placed higher on the back as they didn't use names on the back.

[sox83cubs84]

Maybe 1976 spring training, as the 1976 regular season gamers had the Bicentennial patch on the right sleeve.

Dave M.
Chicago area

[Jayworld]

Did anyone on the GUU win this jersey on eBay?

Thanks.